Amazon has officially launched its Prime Air drone delivery service in Tolleson, Arizona, near Phoenix, offering same-day drone deliveries for eligible items to residents in the West Valley area. The expansion brings Amazon’s largest selection yet for drone delivery, with over 50,000 essential items including household goods, beauty products, and tech supplies available for rapid aerial shipment. Eligible orders can arrive by drone in less than an hour.
The Tolleson facility integrates drone operations directly into its existing delivery infrastructure. The drones are deployed from a hybrid facility adjacent to Amazon’s Tolleson fulfillment center, allowing them to be part of the company’s broader delivery network. This site is the first location to incorporate both a new facility and a drone system meeting FAA guidelines for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. This BVLOS capability allows drones to operate outside the visual range of their operators.
Amazon’s Tolleson drones are the latest MK30 model, which can carry packages up to five pounds. These updated drones boast an improved range and noise reduction features, flying “twice as far” and “50 percent quieter” than earlier versions. This upgrade addresses past issues encountered with previous models that experienced crashes during the testing phases. The drones also feature an onboard “detect and avoid” system that enables navigation through urban airspace.
This launch follows Amazon’s recent closure of its drone testing zone in Lockeford, California, as the company shifts its focus to operational facilities directly integrated with its delivery network. Amazon also operates a similar drone delivery site in College Station, Texas, and has announced plans to add more locations in 2025.
Since beginning limited drone deliveries in 2022, Amazon reports that it has completed “thousands” of successful same-day deliveries in less than an hour. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego praised the service as a forward-thinking solution. “This kind of delivery is the future, and it’s exciting that it will be starting in the Phoenix Metro Area,” Gallego said earlier this year.
